Back when it first released on the Playstation 2, Final Fantasy XII was an excellent RPG that did a lot of things differently for the series. However, it never recieved the mass acclaim as it did critically. Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age is a HD remaster of the PS2 game, and adds some key elements apart from visual changes to make it a compelling game for the Playstation 4.
Set in the world of Ivalice, the story follows the adventures of Vaan, Princess Ashe and their companions as they set about to free their homeland after it’s conquered by the Archadian Empire. Unlike the previous Final Fantasy games, Final Fantasy XII is filled with political intrigue and personal tales than a bigger apocalyptic threat. This is a refreshing change from most RPG tropes and as the story progresses, more complexities and layers emerge. The story is a truly fascinating tale that lets the imagination run wild, and even 11 years later, I still loved every bit of it.
The gameplay remains the same for the most part except for a few improvements. The first is the job system that was initially included only in the Japanese release, and this enables for deeper character customization. The previous system lead to all the characters feeling overly similar in the way they played, but this new system forces players to choose specific jobs for different characters which leads to different license boards which dictates the items and abilities characters had access to. This led to better strategies during combat instead of predefined combat moves in the original release. Tinkering around with the ‘Gambit System’ is still a ton of fun, and victories with the right strategies never feels any less rewarding. Then there’s the speed mode, which allows players to increase the game’s speed by two or four times, making quick work of large areas.
The Trial Mode is another welcome addition, in which you go through 100 consecutive battles with increasingly tough enemies. You can play this at any time, but some of the foes in the later battles will need a really high level party to have any chance of succeeding. This is best left for after you’ve finished the main campaign.
The main highlight, however, are the improved visuals and soundtrack. The game looks significantly better than the original, and character details are impressive. Some of the zones in the game look absolutely gorgeous, while some do show the game’s age. Overall, the visual upgrade is highly welcome, and will make it easier for newcomers to give this game a go. The improved soundtrack sounds phenomenal, and switching back to the original audio track really shows a stark improvement.
There are some bits of the game which can feel like a grind, but with so much to do and discover, some of the grind is actually kind of welcome. This is a game that you will be sinking a lot of time into, and the game does have many more highs than lows. Sure, there’s the expected dramatic rise of stakes towards the third act, but for the most part Final Fantasy XII remains rooted in the characters, and the happenings around them.
Final Fantasy XII is every bit as good as we remember it from back when it first released. The added visual upgrade, and tweaks to the gameplay and job system makes going back to it a fresh new experience.
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